LPC Window Replacement application

Has anyone successfully applied to LPC themselves for window replacement (without an architect)? Care to share your successful application? Or is this hopeless without an expediter?

people apply to landmarks all the time by themselves. they have resources for us that make it very easy to do. if you fall in certain criteria with them and try to do something that suits what they are looking for they may approve the application without putting it before committee (an office staffer can do it). when you file, include photos of your building, the 1940 tax photo, and photos of the windows. spec colors.

i had done several of these over the years with no issue or question from them and then for a long time had done none. two years ago we had to file as we were working in the heights. what the customer wanted was not what landmarks was asking for. they were saying the original building would have had a gray paint in the entry way (and windows which were by then black) and the customer wanted a varnished door. i forget who initiated the conversation with the LPC staff architect – whether she called me or i called her but she told me she could not approve the application herself because of what we where asking for and she would have to sen d it to committer. she suggested an amendment before she sent it on but even if we made the change she was still going to send it to the committee.

here is the thing, they will talk to you. they will actaully converse and are not a bunch of intimidating bereaucrats. nothing like the DOB. you can walk in and they smile as if they really enjoy their jobs.

we had to compromise. we pulled the application to think about it (and my customer was realistic). we decided it was too risky to ask for the varnished door when they wanted gray. we pointed out that the door at the time was an awful purple and the customer was willing to settle for black like the windows were (and they were not being changed). also the customer liked the pattern on the glass and that was not historic (1980’s) and we were afraid if we pushed, they would say “ok, you can have your varnished door, but change the glass” (i have heard of them negotiating like this over things – give us this, we will give you that and they might focus on something that has nothing to do with the scope of your work but they want some 1960’s adornment gone). we resubmitted it asking for a black doorway and they approved it immediatly, no committee and no question about any of the other conversations.

they are not really kind of people who you have to worry about slipping up with and they will send a swat team out. years ago i told them i was already working on a job we were applying for and they said, “don’t do that again” (with a smile). no hassle, no threats, no visits.

do this yourself. maybe call them first and they can tell you about the kinds of windows that get approved easily and you can help this by looking at the tax photo. Or just make the application with the proper photos and see what they say. definitely try to work with their staff architect and follow what she says as opposed to letting it go to committee. my fear with things like that is, if a committee sees it and does not like it, they will remember you and put you under a microscope the next time.

I found it very easy to apply for a permit to redo my brownstone facade (my mason was allergic to paperwork). Just copied most of the application from the LPC site itself and altered details to suit our building. However I have heard a windows application requires detailed drawings. LPC wants to know EXACTLY how the casing, muntins, etc etc will look. Maybe hire an architecture student?

the doors we do require a photograph or drawings as well. we usually take photos and mark them up. or a photo of a neighboring house that we are replicating. i have not done windows in a landmark environment, but a photo or shop drawing of a window will do it (if you call manufacurers, they can provide shop drawings. i found the shop drawings for a door on line the other day; a retailer or installtion contractor who works in this environment will know what to do). also, they will accept drawings on graph paper (i did it once) which leads to this: a generation ago the pros used Auto Cad probably because that was all that was out there (i took an Auto Cad class); i bet now they have cheap drafting programs on line that anyone reading this can use. the good thing about using a computer based drafting program is that you can save it and make changes without erasing things and making a mess.

I like NeoGrecs thought of hiring a student. i am all on for teaching young people and giving them a chance to interact with customers. I would say if you knew some one and wanted to involve them, then yes, say as a favor to them and their parents (kids learned this way, i was doing hands on work for people when i was still in high school, neighbors and such). but all this can be done without that and even though i am a contractor who should propagate my industry’s interests, it troubles me a little that a lot of people are afraid to set their own hands to things and try them on their own.. people just need a little nudge and need to dig around a bit.

one last thing with these landmarks, if you file without a needed detail, they will call and ask for it before they deny it.